Barkley said he never met Cam Newton and did not purchase tickets for him. He didn’t shy away from the topic saying that he would have purchased tickets for Newton if he wanted them and would have given him a tour of the NBA locker room considering Cam Newton is the third best athlete in Auburn sports history behind Barkley and Bo Jackson according to Barkley.

But the quips didn’t stop there. Charles Barkley also gave his take on the controversial Tucker Carlson comments on Michael Vick. He said Carlson previously worked for TNT but was fired because “he sucked.” Barkley also added that “the brothers” were pulling for Michael Vick as he paid his debt to society.

Fox News pundit Tucker Carlson appeared on the Sean Hannity show Monday night and backed off his radical comments made last Tuesday about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.

Carlson, filling in for Hannity, was responding to President Barack Obama’s support to Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie giving Michael Vick a second chance to compete in the NFL. Tucker Carlson said Michael Vick should have been executed for his role in his illegal dogfighting ring.

Check around the 4:45 mark for the conversation.

Sean Hannity: Do you really want him…do you really think he should…

Tucker Carlson: No…that’s what happens when you get too emotional and I did. Look, the bottom line is I’m a dog lover. You know I’ve had dogs my whole life, I have three of them now, I love them and I know a lot about what Michael Vick did. And I’m not going to get into it on this show because it’s too upsetting.”

Emotions can get the best of all of us at times. We live in a reactionary culture of instant messaging, chat rooms, social networking, instant media and message boards where we sometimes speak before we think. Good for Carlson for admitting to his lip slip. Now it’s time to move on…at least, until the next blow-up.

This Dec. 7, 2010, file photo shows Auburn quarterback Cam Newton at the university in Auburn, Ala. The Heisman Trophy-winner added AP Player of the Year to his collection of honors, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)

I came across this interesting story from the Wall Street Journal this morning about the state of African American quarterbacks in college football. The article cites a study that has measured the winning percentages of black quarterbacks since 1970 and includes perspectives from former Super Bowl MVP quarterback Doug Williams and Warren Moon.

From the article:

A study of the winning percentages of black quarterbacks at 40 major-conference schools since 1970 found them to cumulatively be 31 points higher than other quarterbacks at the same schools. With the exception of former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, the most dominant offensive players of the past two decades have arguably all been black quarterbacks: Florida State’s Charlie Ward, Virginia Tech’s Michael Vick, Texas’s Vince Young and Mr. Newton.

The internet has been buzzing all day today because of one name: Tucker Carlson.

If you haven’t heard the story yet, FOX News pundit Tucker Carlson responded to the recent comments from President Obama about the Philadelphia Eagles owner giving Michael Vick a second chance to compete in the NFL, and the conversation quickly took a sharp right.

“I’m a Christian, I’ve made mistakes myself, I believe fervently in second chances,” Carlson said. “But Michael Vick killed dogs, and he did in a heartless and cruel way. And I think, personally, he should’ve been executed for that. He wasn’t, but the idea that the President of the United States would be getting behind someone who murdered dogs?”

Well, I’m guessing Tucker Carlson took the phrase “eye for an eye” literally. But maybe he forgot that was in the Old Testament, not the New Testament where the Bible speaks about grace and mercy.

Understand, I have no sympathy for Vick going to prison for his part in the dogfighting operation. He did the crime and paid the time. But let’s not go overboard with this.

One of the key points of the prison system is to rehab misbehaving citizens, if rehab is possible depending on the case. By all standards, Michael Vick has shown contrition, has paid his debt to society and has traveled around the country encouraging kids not to make the same choices.

Ah, it’s been one of the greatest NFL debates over the past few weeks. Should Tom Brady or Michael Vick win the league’s MVP award or should they be co-MVPs?

Tuesday night’s Vikings-Eagles result, a 24-14 loss by the favored Philadelphia Eagles, could be the notch that puts Tom Brady over the edge (at least this week). The New England Patriots survived a similar scare from the Green Bay Packers a few weeks ago without Aaron Rodgers at the helm, much like the Vikings were without Brett Favre. But the difference here is the outcome. The Patriots almost lost. The Eagles did lose to a team with a ticket to nowhere in the playoffs.

Michael Vick, playing injured, completed 25 of 43 passes for 263 yards with one touchdown, one interception and a pair of fumbles.

Sports analysts debated how much the Tuesday night game and weather affected play on the field, but if any team should have been negatively impacted it would have been the traveling Minnesota Vikings. But given the fact that this is the third consecutive week the Vikings had to deal with weather issues, I’m guessing they were well prepared.

So was this just an off night for Michael Vick and he’s still your MVP or has Tom Brady locked up those honors?

President Barack Obama smiles with a shave Ice at Island Snow at Kailua Beach Center while on vacation with the first family in Kailua, Hawaii, Monday, Dec. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President Barack Obama passionately believes in second chances. That’s apparently why, in part, he felt moved to call Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and praise him for giving convicted felon Michael Vick another chance to compete in the NFL according to online reports.

According to the Associated Press, Obama spokesman Bill Burton says the president told owner Jeffrey Lurie that while he condemns the crimes Vick was convicted of, he believes people who have paid for their crimes should have the opportunity to contribute to society again.

This phone call, which was intended to discuss plans for use of alternative energy where the Eagles play, comes just a week after President Obama called UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma for his team’s historic win-streak feat.

The topic of Michael Vick is pretty divisive, but President Obama has rarely been shy about giving his opinion in public or private on controversial topics.

Question is, do you really care about President Obama’s opinion on Michael Vick?

This Feb. 8, 2010, file photo shows Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick talking to children as part of the Humane Society of the United States' "End Dogfighting" outreach program, at the Overtown Youth Center in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

Michael Vick has made it known over the past few days that he wants to own a dog again one day in the future. According to the terms of his probation, he cannot buy, sell or own a dog and some critics feel that decision should be permanent.

It’s completely understandable to question why a former orchestrator of dog deaths should be banned for life from owning a dog.

Personally, I don’t think Michael Vick deserves the right to own another dog. But I don’t think his kids should pay the price for his sins for the rest of their lives either.

Here’s another perspective to consider. There are convicted felons all across America who regain several rights, most important the right to vote, after their term is done. Everywhere that is except Kentucky and Virginia, the last remaining states who disallow the voting rights of convicted felons.

People, who have committed far worse crimes, have regained far greater rights (maybe some that should be challenged). So Michael Vick owning a dog one day is a small drop in the bucket in comparison.

Michael Vick briefly addressed this during a very bland interview with ESPN’s Mike and Mike in the Morning radio show Friday.

“It’s a tough situation to be in and I just felt like if given an opportunity, I would make the most of it. And I will show people that not’s what I’m really about. I won’t get into a big dissertation about what happened and why I got involved in that because it’s something I’ve talked about repeatedly over and over again. Everybody knows the story and situation. You know it’s tough for my kids, tough for my family, it’s tough for me because, like I’ve said, I’ve always owned a dog growing up. but I respect my judge’s decision… I would never try to impose on any rule he ruled and I guess I just have to wait. It may happen, it may never happen. But I do know how to take care of my responsibilities.”

Michael Vick also spoke about leading the Pro-Bowl votes in the interview to which he said he was grateful for.

Although, it’s really not that shocking Vick is leading the votes right now. American sports fans have always loved a good comeback story.

“I think our country is a country of second chances and I think everybody is willing to give him a second chance,” said the retired Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula. “I think he’s shown contrition for what he did and he’s now moving forward with his career. He’s a great athlete out there performing each week.”

Anyway, I caught up with Lee Corso after the ceremony last night to get a few quick thoughts from him about Cam Newton. Forgive the shortness of the exchange, but the man was gracious enough to briefly chat with me despite having a crowd of fans around him.

Should Cam Newton win the Heisman?

“Cam Newton had the greatest single year of any college quarterback in the history of college football. Not even in just stats, but his team,” Lee Corso said. ” [Tim] Tebow had a great year right? His team lost four games that year. Newton won them all.”

You probably won’t find a bigger Florida football supporter than Lee Corso. He picked Florida and Nebraska for the Tostitos BCS National Championship game earlier this season.

But what Cam Newton has accomplished this season at Auburn is pretty incomparable considering his 13-0 record in arguably the most challenging football conference, the SEC, and who can forget the classic 28-27 critical Alabama victory?

On Friday’s edition of the ESPN Mike and Mike in the Morning show, host Mike Greenberg chimed in on the Cam Newton argument asking writer Mel Kiper Jr. his thoughts about the Newton-integrity Heisman debate. His response was pretty harsh.

“If you’re going to make judgments on things beyond the rules, you should be stripped of your vote,” Mel Kiper Jr. said. “That’s wrong Mike, that’s flat out wrong.”

So what’s your take on the Cam Newton debate? Should he or should he not have been eligible for the Heisman trophy?

Michael Vick smiling as he leaves the field after an NFL football game against the New York Giants, in Philadelphia. Credit Associated Press

NFL jersey sales tell the true story of who football fans really root for. If paying money to wear someone’s name on your back isn’t the best sign of commitment, I don’t know what is.

According to NFL spokesperson Joanna Hunter, Michael Vick’s No. 7 Philadelphia Eagles jersey is expected to break into the top 25 jersey sales by the end of this month. New data will be made available at the end of this week, Hunter said.

Michael Vick has obviously been having a tremendous season, but are fans warming up to him enough to purchase his jersey?

The images of Michael Vick and Tim Tebow live on completely different islands. And while Americans love winners, it makes you wonder if Vick will ever be fully accepted by fans again for his past off field indiscretions.

“What kind of parents sanction these “it’s time to move on” jersey purchases? I hope I hear from them. I’m tired of hearing their rationalizations about what the Bible says, or it’s racial, or he’s no worse that most pro athletes who do drugs, assault women or get caught in other crimes.

Shouldn’t parents focus on raising standards for their children’s role models? Vick has made commendable progress, but there’s more time left in the game before we should declare victory on the rehabilitation-and-redemption journey.”

Personally, I wouldn’t buy Michael Vick’s jersey. I also wouldn’t buy a Tim Tebow jersey or Drew Brees jersey. A friend of mine once told me the only jerseys he allows his children to wear are their own. His philosophy is you don’t really know the private character of public people so why promote the identity of someone you don’t know anyway.

The highlight video speaks for itself — Michael Vick was unstoppable. He passed for 333 yards and ran for 80, picking apart a shell-shocked Washington team that found itself in a 35-0 after the first play of the second quarter.

But regardless of how well Michael Vick played, was it enough to erase his dogfighting misdeeds that sent him to prison? Should we forget the way his Bad Newz Kennels killed underperforming pit bulls by hanging, electrocution and drowning?

Are six touchdowns and jail time to enough to make Michael Vick a good guy?